21-08-13, 05:12 PM
As Mike (Falcon) says it's about burn rate.
Petrol is petrol in energy terms, a gallon of 92RON has the same energy as a gallon of 98RON.
The difference is that 98 RON gives a more controlled slower burn, rather than just exploding.
So if you read up on things such as top dead centre and ignition timing, you'll get the idea. The fuel is ignited before top dead centre, it starts to burn, and as the piston just passes the top the main explosion occurs pushing the piston hard down the cylinder.
What can happen, if like in the old days you used poor quality fuel (cheap low octane) or your timing was not set up correctly (happened to me with a Cavalier SRI that I bought) is you'll get pinking. That is detonation is occurring right on or before TDC - pre ignition is called knock.
The timing on your Gen1 Fazer is factory set and cannot be adjusted. Running a slightly higher octane fuel will make no difference, running a much higher octane fuel will probably mean a slight fall off in performance - that's because the timing will be slightly out with the wrong fuel, though at least on the right side of top dead centre.
If you put too low an octane fuel in you will get pinking or knock which will eventually burn out your valves (usually inlet?)
There is of course a lot of marketing bull in fuel and oils. Sure they are cleaner than they used to be, but manufactures can't add extra energy - as far as I am aware it's not possible. And clearly it's best to use the correct octane for your bike if you want to get max performance. If you have concerns about the quality of the fuel in your country it may well be worth going up a grade.
Now if my memory is correct. The Gen1 Fazer is rated for 92RON and up. What I can't remember is how effective ignition advancers are for the bike and how well they work with 95 and 98 RON fuels.
The bottom line, the only time I've ever stuck 98 RON in was when there was a petrol shortage and that's all there was.
Oh, a lot of modern petrol cars (as we learned in the oil thread car engines are more sophisticated than bike engines!) are now using high compression, high efficiency turbo charged units. These engines often require 98 RON, but the manufactures knowing what some of their customers will do, have wisely fitted most of them with anti-knock technology, which if pinking or knock is detected by the knock sensors will retard the ignition. But of course your 220hp Golf GTI will only make 220HP if you put 98 RON in it.
Blah blah blah blah.
Blah.
Petrol is petrol in energy terms, a gallon of 92RON has the same energy as a gallon of 98RON.
The difference is that 98 RON gives a more controlled slower burn, rather than just exploding.
So if you read up on things such as top dead centre and ignition timing, you'll get the idea. The fuel is ignited before top dead centre, it starts to burn, and as the piston just passes the top the main explosion occurs pushing the piston hard down the cylinder.
What can happen, if like in the old days you used poor quality fuel (cheap low octane) or your timing was not set up correctly (happened to me with a Cavalier SRI that I bought) is you'll get pinking. That is detonation is occurring right on or before TDC - pre ignition is called knock.
The timing on your Gen1 Fazer is factory set and cannot be adjusted. Running a slightly higher octane fuel will make no difference, running a much higher octane fuel will probably mean a slight fall off in performance - that's because the timing will be slightly out with the wrong fuel, though at least on the right side of top dead centre.
If you put too low an octane fuel in you will get pinking or knock which will eventually burn out your valves (usually inlet?)
There is of course a lot of marketing bull in fuel and oils. Sure they are cleaner than they used to be, but manufactures can't add extra energy - as far as I am aware it's not possible. And clearly it's best to use the correct octane for your bike if you want to get max performance. If you have concerns about the quality of the fuel in your country it may well be worth going up a grade.
Now if my memory is correct. The Gen1 Fazer is rated for 92RON and up. What I can't remember is how effective ignition advancers are for the bike and how well they work with 95 and 98 RON fuels.
The bottom line, the only time I've ever stuck 98 RON in was when there was a petrol shortage and that's all there was.
Oh, a lot of modern petrol cars (as we learned in the oil thread car engines are more sophisticated than bike engines!) are now using high compression, high efficiency turbo charged units. These engines often require 98 RON, but the manufactures knowing what some of their customers will do, have wisely fitted most of them with anti-knock technology, which if pinking or knock is detected by the knock sensors will retard the ignition. But of course your 220hp Golf GTI will only make 220HP if you put 98 RON in it.
Blah blah blah blah.
Blah.